Fuse reversing mechanism



July 13, 1937. E. H. TAYLOR v 2,086,684

FUSE IREVERS ING MECHANI S M ..Filed Feb. 14, 1956 s Sheets-sheet) July 13, 1937. E. H. TAYLOR FUSE REVERSING MECHANISM led Feb. 14, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13, 1937. E H. TAYLOR 2,086,684

FUSE REVERSING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIHII 1 1- Patented July 13, 1937 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUSE REVERSING MECHANISM Elmer H. Taylor, Newburyport, Mass., assignor to The Chase-Shawmut Company, Newburyport, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 14, 1936, Serial No. 63,906

26 Claims. I (01. 29-33 =This invention relates to the manufacture of electric fuses of the cartridge type comprising a tubular enclosing casing having end caps thereon to which the fusible element or link is electrically connected, the casing containing a loose filler of arc-quenching material.

'In the manufacture of electric fuses wherein the fuse casings are advanced by a carrier it is necessary or at least is desirable to perform work first-on one end of the fuse and then on the other end thereof. Hence it is desirable to reverse the fuse casing or turn it end for end so that work can be performed on What, prior to the reversing operation, was the idle end of the casing.

An object of the present invention is the provision of reversing mechanism for reversing the fuse casing in the carrier so that the carrier can present theinverted fuse casings in position to have work done upon. them.

-A further object of the invention is the provision of a fuse carrier in which the fuses are vertically arranged with their upper ends in the same plane, and reversing mechanism for turning the casings end for end and positioning the reversed -;casings in the carrier with their upper ends in the same plane.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an intermittently advanceable carrier having a plurality of spaced pairs of fuse engaging jaws and reversing mechanism coacting with the jaws and 'includingmeans foropening the jaws and means for removing the fuse from the open jaws, reversing the fuse, and restoring it into position between the jawswhich thereupon are arranged to close upon the fuse.

A further object is generally to improve the construction and operation of fuse making machines and particularly reversing mechanisms therefor.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the reversing mechanism embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is'an enlarged sectional elevation taken along line 2+2 of Fig. l.

Fig. Bis an enlarged sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '4 is a plan view of the reversing slide of the mechanism removedfrom its guideway.

Fig. 5 isan end view of the reversing slide and the gears thereof taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Figs. G th'rough 14, inclusive, are elevations of the fuse engaging clips of the reversing slide, the fuse; the fuse holding-jaws of the carrier, and the opening and closing member for the jaws and successively illustrating the successive positions assumedby the partsin reversing the fuse casing.

Fig; 15 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of a fuse casing operated upon by the mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional'view of the completed fuse.

The completed fuse illustrated in Fig. 16, which is in part the product of the mechanism embodying the present invention, comprises a tubular enclosing casing 20 of suitable insulating material, as fibre, having end caps 22 and 24 on the ends and a fusible element or fuse link 26 extended through the casing and having its ends extended through and soldered to'the end caps. The casing contains a loose filler 28 of suitable arc-quenching material.

The fuse casings as they are advanced to the reversing mechanism are illustrated in'Fig. 15, wherein the casing 20 has but one end cap 22 thereon, the other end of the casing being open and the fuse link 26 being extended beyond the end of the casing. Successive fusecasings, as illustrated in Fig. 15, are advanced in a horizontal plane into and out of a reversing position and to and from the reversing mechanism therein posi tioned by an intermittently advanceable carrier 30, see Figs. 1 and 2. Said carrier has aplurality of equally spaced fuse holding devices therein, each device comprising a pair of co-acting jaws, the jaw 32 being stationarily supported and the jaw 34 being mounted for pivotal movement on the'pivot 36. The movable jaw 34 has a rearwardly projecting tail 38 which is constantly acted upon by a compression spring 40 in a direction to close the jaws and thereby to hold them engaged with a fuse casing positioned therebetween.

The fuse casings are positioned in their respective jaws, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with the casings vertical and with theend cap end thereof uppermost. All fuse casings are positioned in the jaws so that the top faces of the end caps lie in substantially the same horizontal plane.

The advance of the carrier is intermittent and is so arranged that the carrier remains sta-" tionary with a fuse casing in reversing position for a sufhcient period to pe'rmit the reversing mechanism to engage the casing and re-position it in inverted or reversed position'between the jaws before the carrier readvances.

The reversing mechanism including an up-- standing stationarily supported bracket 42 that at its upper end is provided with a horizontal guideway 44 aligned with a fuse-casing when the latter is 'in reversed position. A slide 46 is reciprocable horizontally in said guideway and. has at its forward or fuse-adjacent end a laterally outstanding bracket 48 in which a horizontal shaft 50 is journalled. Said shaft at its forward end has a right angularly related arm 52 fixed thereto to which a fuse engaging and reversing clip 54 is secured. Said clip, see especially Fig. 4, is provided with a pair of opposed resilient fingers 56 adapted to be sprung apart when moved against the fuse casing and to permit the casing to enter the casing receiving space 56 and to resiliently engage the casing and retain it releasably in the clip. The clip 34 is secured to the arm 52 at a suitable distance offset from the center of the shaft 50 so that, as the shaft 50 is rotated throughout 180 from the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby to position the clip from a lower position to a high position, the open end of the fuse is caused to be positioned to about the same height above the fuse jaws that the cap of the fuse stood above the jaws prior to the reversal of thecasing. For fuses of different lengths the distance of the clip from the center of the shaft 50 will be different; and for fuses of different lengths different slides 46 with differently located reversing clips are provided. I

The normal position of the clip is vertically under the shaft 50, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The slide is designed to advance to cause the clip to engage a fuse casing below the jaws of the carrier and then to retract. to clear the casing from the jaws. The clip. shaft 50 is then rotated 180 to position the clipvertically above the shaft, as illustrated in Fig. 10, and then to advance to reposition the. fuse casing in inverted position between the jaws and then to retract and resume its initial position.

The mechanism forreciprocating the shaft 50. throughout its 180 of movement includes a pin ion gear 60 fixedto said shaft and meshing with a gear 62. journalled on a stud shaft, 64 carried by the bracket 48. Said gear 62 is in driving engagement with an arm 66 that is adapted to be reciprocated throughout. an angle of Hence the gear 62 has twice the diameter of the pinion 60. Whatever the throw of the arm 66 may be the ratio of the gears 62, 60, is such as to effect one-half a revolution of the. shaft 50. The arm 66 is provided with a longitudinally elongated slot 68 therein in which is located a horizontal rod I0 fixed to and projecting rear- Wardly from the upper end of a vertically reciprocable shaft I2 which is guided for vertical movement in a suitable guide bracket '14. The rear end of the rod I0 is guided in the vertical slot I6 of a stationary guide bracket I8. The lower end of the shaft I2 is pivotally connected with the inner end of a generally horizontal. lever 80 that is pivoted at its rear. end to a. suitable support 82 and overlies a'rotatable operating shaft 84.

Said shaft 84- is adapted forcontinuous rotationalthough the angular speed of the shaft may be different in different angular positions thereof. Said shaft has a cam 86 fixed thereto and the lever 80 has a cam roller 88 that rides on said cam. Said cam 86 has a single lobe 90 of v such characteristics that it effects the reciprocation of the lever 80 and consequently of the clip shaft in such manner as to effect rotation of the shaft 50 only while conditions are proper for a casing to be located in the fuseclip and to hold the clip shaft against rotation in, the elevated position of the clip while the clip is-advanced toward the fuse carrier and also to hold the clip stationary in its lower position during the advance of the carrier and also while the clip is being reciprocated in its lower position toward and away from the carrier.

Suitable adjusting means 92 are provided intermediate the length of the shaft I2 to effect the proper initial positioning of the clip. The adjustment once made need not be changed except when a different clip slide is substituted for the one for which the adjustment was initially made.

The clip slide is reciprocated toward and from the fuses in the carrier by means including a bell crank lever 94 having a generally vertical arm 96 which has a pivotal connection with the rear end of the slide. The bell crank lever is provided with a generally horizontal arm 98 carrying at its end a cam roller I00 which rides upon a cam I02 fixed to the shaft 84. Said cam I02 is provided with two diametrically opposed lobes I04 and I06, the lobe I04 being shorter in arcuate length than the lobe I06 and holding the-clip slide in withdrawn position. during the reversing of the clip and the lobe I 06 holding the slide in withdrawn position during the advance ofthe. carrier into and out of reversing position. .The

lobes are connected by inclined faces I08 which.

secure the advance and retraction of the slide to and from the fuses and the intermediate portion IIO between the'sets of inclined faces'provides a dwell during which the clip is in holding;

engagement with the fuse casing between the. jaws, and the jaws are being opened to free the casing or are being closed upon the casing. as: The angular relation of the:

the case may be. reversing cam 90 and the slide operating cam I06 is such as to eifect the reversing of the clip tal slide bar II2, see especially Fig. 2, which is slidablein bearings II4 of the bracket 42. Said. bar carries a depending ear II 6 at its forward end in which a tappet IIB threaded, the adjustment being toward and away from the tails 38 of the jaws. The tappet H0 is provided with a head I20 which is adapted to be moved into engagement with the end of the tail 38 of each of the pair of jaws when, they are in reversing position to cause the jaws to open and permit the withdrawal of the fuse therefrom for its reversal. The slide bar H2 is pivotally; connected to the upper end of a generally vertical lever I22 pivoted intermediate its endsat I24 to the bracket 42 and having at its lower end a cam roller I26 which rides upon a cam I281fixed' to the shaft 84.. A retractile spring l3,0 serves to maintain the roller in engagement with the cam. The cam I28 is provided with a single lobe I32 which serves to hold the jaws open during the reversal of the fuse by the clip. The cam is also so made that it effects the opening of, the jaws after the clip is engaged with the fuse therebetween and effects the closure of the jaw upon the reversed fuse prior to-the withdrawal, of the clip.

Figs. 6 through 14 illustrate the various positionsassumed bythe parts in the reyersal of a 50. is adjustably screwfuse. .Fig. 6 illustrates the normal position of the parts, just after the arrival of a fuse in re-- versing position. The fuse is gripped in the jaws with the cap end thereof uppermost and the open end down. The clip then'advances and engages the fuse casing beneath the jaws as illustrated in Fig. 7. The tappet then advances and opens the jaws, the fuse being held by the clip. The clip then is retracted in the position illustrated in Fig.

1 9 and revolved to reverse the position of the fuse so as to bring the open end thereof uppermost and the clip above the jaws as illustrated in Fig. 10. The clip with the reversed fuse is then advanced to position the reversed fuse between the jaws, the jaws being still held open by the tappet sition as illustrated in Fig. 14. The backward revolution of the clip while herein described as taking place prior to the advance of the carrier can as well take place during the advance of the 1 carrier.

.. I claim:

1. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a carrier for advancing a succession of fuse casings, means comprising a part of said carrier engageable with the fuse casings intermediate the ends thereof, and mechanism for re-. versing the position of successive fuse casings on said carrier at a predetermined position of 'advance of said carrier and for positioning the reversed fuse casings in said casing engaging means operative upon the successive fuse casings when.

they are in reversing position for, removing them from said carrier, reversing them, and for re-positioning the casings on the carrier with their open ends directed in the same direction and lying in approximately the same plane as the cap,

ends of the fuse casings prior to removal.

, 3. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a carrier for advancing a succession of fuse casings into and out of a reversing position and into said position with the open ends of the casings down, and means operative upon the successive fuses when they are in said position for removing them from said carrier, reversing them, and for repositioning the fuses on said carrier with the open ends up. i

4. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising an advanceable fuse carrier having a plurality of fuse holding devices each adapted to grip a fuse intermediate its ends, and means operative upon the successive fuses in said devices for removing said fuses from said devices, changing the position of said fuses and replacing said fuses in changed position to the engagement of said devices.

5. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a carrier having a plurality of pairs of fuse engaging jaws which grip the fuses intermediate their ends, and means operative upon the successive fuses to remove them from said jaws, turn them endwise and restore them in in- 1 verted position to'the engagement of saidjawsr =6. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a fu'secarrier having a plurality of pairs of fuse engaging jaws, each pair of jaws engaging the fuse intermediate its ends and the similar ends of the fuses of all jaws being in substantially the same plane, and means operative upon the successive fuses-in said jaws for removing the fuses from said jaws, turning the fuses end for end, and restoring the reversed fuses into said jaws withthe similar ends of allthe fuses disposed in approximately the same plane.

7. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a fuse carrier having a plurality of pairs of fuse holding jaws each adapted to engage a fuse intermediate its ends, said fuses being adapted'to be positioned in said pairs of jaws with their similar endsdirected in the same direction andprojecting beyond the jaws substantially the same amount, and mechanism op-- erative upon the successive fuses for removing them from said jaws and turning them endwise and restoring them in reverse position between said jaws with their opposite ends extended all in'thesame direction and located beyond said jaws approximately the same amount.

8. Reversing mechanism forelectric fuses comprising'a fuse carrier having a plurality of means for supporting fuses on said carrier to project both above and below said supporting means, a fuse engaging and reversing'device movable toward and awayfrom saidcarrier, means for advancing said device into engagement-with a fuse on one side of said holding means and for reversing said device and for re-advancing said device on the other side of said holding means to reposition the reversed fuse into said holding means.

I 9. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a fuse carrier having a plurality of. sets of fuse' engaging jaws between which fuses are adapted to be positioned and extended in both'directions from said jaws, a reversing device including fuse engaging means movable toward and away from said sets of jaws on both sides thereof, means for moving said fuse engaging means toward said sets of jaws on one side thereof into engagement with the fuse therebetween, and for Withdrawing said holding means and the fuse therein and for reversing said holding means and the fuse therein and for re-advancing said holding means towards said jaws on the other side thereof to reposition the reversed fuse between said jaws.

10. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a fuse carrier having a plurality of sets of fuse engaging jaws advanceable into and out of a fuse reversing position and adapted to engage the fuses intermediate the ends thereof, a fuse engaging reversing device for engaging and reversing the fuses, and means for advancing said device into the engagement of the successive fuses between the ends thereof and for retracting said device and for reversing it and the fuse therein and for readvancing it to' position the reversing fuses between said jaws.

11. Reversing mechanism fior electric fuses comprising a fuse carrier having a plurality of sets of fuse engaging jaws advanceable into and out of a fuse reversing position and adapted to engage the fuses intermediate the ends thereof, a fuse engaging reversing device for engaging and reversing the fuses, means for advancing said device into the engagement of the successive fuses between the ends thereof and for retracting said device and for reversing it and the fuse thereinand for readvancing it to position the reversing fuses. between. said jaws. and means for opening said jaws. to. permit: the withdrawal of the fuse and. the insertion. of the reversedfuse therebetween..

1:2. Reversing mechanism for: electric fuses comprising a fuse carrier having a, plurality of sets; of; fuse engaging jaws movable intoand out of a reversing position, and areversing device operative. upon, the successive fuses in said jaws.

including. a fuse holding. device movable toward andnaway from saidiaws on both sides. thereof, and means for operating said. device to advance said device onv one side of said jaws to the engagement of. a fuse therebetween, to retract said device, to..reverse the position of said device and the fuse. therein, to readvance saiddeviceon the other side of said jaws, for repositioning the reversed fuse therebetween and to retract said device.

13.. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses. comprising; a fuse carrier having a plurality of sets of fuse engaging jaws movable into and out: of a reversing position, a reversing? device operative upon the, successive fuses insaid jaws-including a. fuse holding device movable toward and. away from said jaws. on both sides thereof, means'for operating; said device to advance said.

device on. one side of said jawsto the. engagement of a fuse therehetween, to retract said device, to. reverse the. position of said device and. the.

fuse; therein, to readvance said device on the.

other side of said jaws for repositioning the reversed fuse therebetween and. to retract said de- "1- vice, and means for opening said jaws; for the withdrawal. and reinsertion of the fuse therebetween.

'1,.4. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising an advan-ceable fuse'holder engage: able with. the fuse intermediate-its. ends and a.

reversing device for reversing the .-position.of='the fuse in said holder, said device including fuse engaging means engageable with, the fuse inter.-

mediate its ends,. means for: advancing said en-' aging-means to and fromsaid holder, and meansfor reversing the position. of said device between.

its. successive advancing movements.

15. Reversing mechanism. for electric fuses comprising a fusehol'der engageable with the fuse intermediate its endsand means. for reversing.

the position of, the fuse in saidv holder including fuse engaging means engageablewith the fuse intermediate its ends, means for .guiding said engaging means for movement. toward and away I fromv said holder on one side thereof, means. for

1.7.. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses.

comprising a fuse holder, a reversing device for the fuse therein including afuse engaging clip, a; rotatable shaft carrying said. clip projecting in.an axialrdirection therefrom, a slidecarrying aid shaft, meansv for advancingand retracting said slideuinthe. axialdirection of said shaft toward andawayfrom, said holder, .and means. for rotating said shaft to. reverse. said clip'between successive. advanced movements of said slide.

18.. Reversing. mechanism for electric fuses comprising a. fuse. holder, and a reversing device for'the fuse. in said holder including a. rotatable shaft,.afuseengagingdevice fixed eccentrically to Said shaft, means. for advancing and retracting said. device toward and from said holder, and means .for rotatingsaid shaft a half. a revolution between successive advanced movements of said device.

19-. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses. comprising a fuse holder and a reversing device for the. fuse therein, including a rotatable shaft, a. fuse engaging. device fixed eccentrically to said shaft, a slide carryingsaid shaft and: movable with saidshaft and device towardand away fromsaid holder, means for advancing said slide toward and. away from said-holder, and means for rotating saidshaft one-half a revolution between successive advanced movements of said slide.

20. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a fuse holder, means for reversing the position ofthe fuse in said holder including a rotatable shaft having an offset arm, a fuse engaging. device fixed to said arm at one side of the center of said shaft, means for advancing said device toward and away from said holder, and means for rotating said shaftone-half a revolution between successive advanced movements of said device.

2-1. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a. fuse holder, means for reversing the position of the fuse in said holder, including a slide movable toward and away from said holder, a shaft rotatable in saidslide and having an offset arm, a fuse clip fixed to said arm at one side ofthe center of said shaft, means for reciprocati'ng-said slide-toward and from said holder, and means for rotating said shaft one-half a revolution between successive advanced movements of said slide.

22. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a fuse holder having a plurality of sets of fuseengagingjaws advanceable into and out of areversing position, and means for reversing the position of the fuses in said jaws including fuse engaging means movable toward and away from the fuses, means for advancing and retracting said engaging means, means for reversing the position of said fuse engaging means between successive advancing movements thereof, and means for opening said jawsto permit the removal and reinsertion of a fuse therebetween.

23. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a fuse holder having a plurality of sets of fuse engaging jaws advanceable into and out ofa reversing position, means for reversing the position o-f the fuses in said jaws including fuse engaging means movable toward and away fromthe fuses; means for advancing and retracting: said engaging means, means for reversing the position of said: fuse engaging means between successive advancing movements thereof, and means for opening said jaws subsequent the advance of said engaging means and prior to. the

retraction 'thereof and for closing said jaws upon.

the reversed fuse prior to the retraction of the reversed engaging device;

24'. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising-a carrier having aiplurality of sets of fuse: engaging jaws, one jaw of each set having 75.

a tail, means for reversing the position of the fuses in said sets of jaws including a fuse engaging device, means for advancing and retracting said device toward and away from said jaws, means for reversing the position of said fuse engaging device between successive advancing movements thereof, and means engageable with the tails of the successive sets of jaws for opening said jaws to permit the withdrawal of the fuse therebetween and the insertion of the reversed fuse therebetween.

25. Reversing mechanism for electric fuses comprising a carrier having a plurality of sets of fuse engaging jaws advanceable into and out of a reversing position, means for reversing the position of the successive fuses in said jaws including a rotatable shaft having an offset arm, a fuse engaging device fixed to said arm at one side of the center of said shaft, means for advancing said device toward and retracting it away from the successive sets of jaws, means for rotating said shaft one-half a revolution between successive advancing movements of said device, and means for opening said jaws to permit the withdrawal of a fuse therefrom by said device and for closing said jaws upon the reversed fuse.

26. Reversing mechanism comprising a fuse holder, means for reversing the position of the fuse in said holder including a slide movable toward and away from said holder, a rotatable shaft in said slide, said shaft having an offset arm fixed thereto, a resilient fuse engaging clip fixed to said arm at one side of the center thereof and extended lengthwise of said shaft, means for moving said slide toward and away from said holder, and means for rotating said shaft one-half a revolution between successive advancing movements of said slide.

ELMER H. TAYLOR. 

